Iris Mayr read communication studies, economics and Spanish in Linz, Salzburg and Sevilla. Between 1996 and 2007 she worked for Ars Electronica in a number of different functions; she was for instance in charge of the administration of the Prix Ars Electronica. Between 2003 and 2004 she was tutor and research assistant at the University of Salzburg. In 2006 she was curator of the biennial “Media City_Seoul” together with Lev Manovich, Yuko Hasegawa and Pi Li. 2008 Iris Mayr has been in charge of the opening of Linz09. She is working as a freelance project manager and curator.

Discovering ideas for tomorrow in young minds today is the aim of this grant supported by voestalpine and focusing on the intersection of art and technology. The category’s target group includes students at universities, art schools, technical schools, and other educational institutions as well as creatives from all over the world, aged 19-27, who have developed as-yet-unproduced concepts in the fields of art, design or technology. The winner receives a stipend in the amount of 7,500 Euro and will be invited to spend a term as Researcher and Artist in Residence at the Ars Electronica Futurelab. Judging will be done by a panel of experts. The Ars Electronica Futurelab makes its resources and its staff’s expertise available to support the realization of the project during the term of residency. The awarded concept or the completed work will be presented in the Prix Ars Electronica’s “CyberArts 2007” catalog and as part of the Ars Electronica Exhibition at the 2007 Ars Electronica Festival. Strongly committed to an interdisciplinary approach, and as part of an international network of collaborating institutional associates, the Ars Electronica Futurelab carries out its R&D projects together with artists and scientists from all over the world. The awarding of this grant is made possible by voestalpine.

The 21st Prix Ars Electronica will have a few new features.The new Hybrid Art category, a new prize for Media.Art.Research, and the integration of Net Vision into Digital Communities are the most visible signs of the intensive work that is being done on the definition of the competition’s categories. As always, the aim is to continually keep the Prix Ars Electronica updated in line with leading-edge developments in the dynamic field of cyberarts.

Prix Ars Electronica 2006International Competition for CyberartsThe Prix Ars Electronica - International Competition for Cyberarts is being conducted for the 19th time in 2006. In addition to the classic categories-Interactive Art, Net Vision, Computer Animation / Visual Effects and Digital Musics-Digital Communities and [the next idea] Art and Technology Grant competition that debuted last year will be reprised.

Prix Ars Electronica 2006Start of Online Submissions: January 10, 2006Online Submission Deadline: March 17, 2006Details about entering are available online only at http://prixars.aec.at

COMPUTERANIMATION / VISUAL EFFECTSThe "Computer Animation / Visual Effects" category has been part of the Prix Ars Electronica since its very inception. It recognizes excellence in independent work in the arts and sciences as well as in high-end commercial productions in the film, advertising and entertainment industries. In this category, artistic originality counts just as much as masterful technical achievement.

DIGITAL MUSICSContemporary digital sound productions from the broad spectrum of "electronica" come in for consideration in the "Digital Musics" category, as do works combining sound and media, computer compositions ranging from electro-acoustic to experimental music, or sound installations. This category's programmatic agenda is to expand horizons beyond the confines of individual genres and artistic currents.

INTERACTIVE ART The "Interactive Art" category is dedicated to interactive works in all forms and formats, from installations to performances. Here, particular consideration is given to the realization of a powerful artistic concept through the especially appropriate use of technologies, the innovativeness of the interaction design, and the work's inherent potential to expand the human radius of action.

NET VISIONThe "Net Vision" category singles out for recognition artistic projects in the Internet that display brilliance in how they have been engineered, designed and-especially-conceived, works that are outstanding with respect to innovation, interface design and the originality of their content. The way in which a work of net-based art deals with the online medium is essential in this category.

DIGITAL COMMUNITIESThis category focuses attention on the wide-ranging social impact of the Internet as well as on the latest developments in the fields of social software, mobile communications and wireless networks. "Digital Communities" spotlights bold and inspired innovations impacting human coexistence, bridging the geographical as well as gender-based digital divide, or creating outstanding social software and enhancing accessibility of technological-social infrastructure. This category showcases the political potential of digital and networked systems and is thus designed as a forum for the consideration of a broad spectrum of projects, programs, initiatives and phenomena in which social innovation is taking place, as it were, in real time. A Golden Nica, two Awards of Distinction and up to 12 Honorary Mentions will be awarded in the Digital Communities category in 2006.

[the next idea]Art and Technology GrantThe aim of this grant focusing on the mutually enriching interplay of art and technology is to nurture concepts for the future that young thinkers are coming up with today. This category’s target group includes interested persons throughout the world between the ages of 19 and 27, who have developed a not-yet-realized concept in the fields of media art, media design or media technology. The winner will receive a 7,500-euro grant and an invitation to spend a semester as scientific assistant and artist-in-residence at the Ars Electronica Futurelab.

> Prix Ars Electronica has extended its deadline for all categories and> the art and technology grant [the next idea]> > the new deadline is march 26, 2004 (postmarked)> > please find all information as well as the registration form online> at: http://prixars.aec.at/> > Prix Ars Electronica is open for entries in the categories: digital> musics, net vision, digital communities, computer animtion/visual> effects, interactive art and the art and technology grant [the next> idea]>